I am getting ready to smoke a Bear Backstrap here in a few hours and was wondering if anyone had ideas of a good recipe whether it was for elk, deer, or anything else. I have done some looking around and found that when the internal meat hits 160 degrees for 5 minutes (to kill trichinosis if present) its done. I'm planning on smoking it at 225 degrees, but I do have higher settings and one lower one at 185 degrees.
I did prep the backstrap in a sweet BBQ rub in a food saver bag last week, then had set it in the freezer for 5 days. I took it out of the freezer to unthaw yesterday morning and now it is ready.
Questions-
Do in need a brine? Brown sugar? any other spices? turning it over every so often?
Thanks